In Our Community

Greater Bedminster Community Partnership (GBCP)

The GBCP is made up of local councillors, voluntary and community organisations, private businesses and public agencies within the two Bristol wards of Southville and Bedminster.

The partnership aims to benefit the people living in the area and encourage greater cooperation and effectiveness between private, public and social economy organisations. Money is allocated from the Community Chest Fund to projects and activities that support the Partnership’s priorities and objectives and a new Community Chest Fund application round opens in April 2016.

Some of the priorities and objectives of the GBCP include improving the environment infrastructure; activities to encourage people to walk, cycle or use public transport; to reduce crime and the fear of crime; local developments to meet the needs of local people; improving the life for older/younger people and families and improving the economic health of our retail streets and neighbourhoods.

Community Partnership meetings are held several times a year and full information can be found on the Bristol City Council website. If you would like to receive the regular GBCP newsletter, email: gbcpnewsletter@gmail.com

Neighbourhood Beat Manager, Police Constable 2544 Kris Withers

Kris Withers, Neighbourhood Beat Manager, Avon & Somerset Police

I am the Neighbourhood School’s Beat Manager for Ashton Park Secondary School, a position I have held since the start of this academic year, September 2015.

The role of a School Beat Manager is incredibly varied and includes investigating crime, keeping young people safe, and providing educational inputs on drugs, the criminal justice system and internet and social media safety, amongst other subjects. I am trained to use restorative justice to resolve appropriate incidents inside and outside of school. Restorative Justice (or RJ) enables offenders to understand the impact of their actions by meeting and talking to victims. I see my position as an opportunity to promote positive images of the police, as I am approachable and accessible, not only to the students within school, but to their families as well.

I have embraced our Think Family programme and my role at the school means I am the lead professional working with families in this area to help them avoid criminal activity, by diverting them from crime. This work can mean helping families with debt such as rent arrears by speaking with housing providers, or help with potential addiction problems and seeking support. Other support can be sought to make the household more secure and enable families and young people to choose a path away from crime.

I enjoy this role immensely and feel extremely privileged to work with the students. I hope that I have a positive impact on the lives of the young people and the families that I work with. I am happy to speak to anybody connected with the school and if I can help in any way to resolve any issues involving our students either inside or outside the school, please contact me on: Kris.Withers@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk

My Wild Bedminster with Avon Wildlife Trust

Local residents, schools, businesses and Bristol City Council are working together to create a nature-rich neighbourhood within the area of Bedminster and Southville.

This area has a network of enthusiastic groups who have been working with the Council for a number of years to provide new opportunities for people and wildlife within their local parks. Many gardeners also encourage wildlife by planting pollinator-friendly plants and putting up bird feeders, with this work recognised through the local ‘Good Front Gardens’ Award.

My Wild City is working with residents to connect their wildlife gardens, school grounds and parks with existing wildlife corridors along waterways and railway lines. See the Avon Wildlife Trust website for more information on how to get involved.

For some time the West St Neighbourhood Group have been collecting photographs of life in West St: shopfronts, parties and events, and some of just ordinary family and school life. They’ve also been recording people’s memories and tales. From 14-17 April 2016, a pop-up museum will be opening in the transformed URC Hall, West St, with an exhibition extending into shop windows along the street to share their material.

If you would like to know more about this project, or can help in any way, please contact Stef Brammar on 07917 711949, or see their Facebook page.

What’s On in Bedminster?

Find all the events and activities going on in our local area, plus news and updates on the website www.bedminster.org.uk.